The car swerved dangerously in the road as Alex growled.
“Fuck, Ella!” He grabbed my hand away from where it was currently rubbing him. “Do you want us to have an accident?”
I giggled, then lightly nibbled his ear before sitting back into my seat. I held both my hands in the air.
“I promise I won’t touch again. Well, not unless you ask me to.”
He flashed me a grin before turning back to concentrate on his driving.
“You can be sure I’ll ask you later. I do intend to have rather less clothes on next time your hand ventures to that part of my anatomy.”
“Can’t wait.”
My thoughts ran wild with what we were going to do later, particularly with the body paint. Maybe I could spell some words out on his body. The longer the word, the better. I hummed to myself imagining where I could write the longest word, and what designs I could paint on his body. Swirls, straight lines, arrows?
“We’re nearly at yours,” Alex said. “I’m just going to drive past the end of your street. You look down the road, see what’s going on.”
I nodded. I wasn’t as sure as I had been earlier that there would be no-one there. After the attention we’d received as we left the studio, and then the surprise appearance of Anthony Edwards a few moments ago, I wasn’t as confident in my earlier assumption that no-one would be there.
I was also convinced that Amy was the person who had orchestrated the leak of our relationship, particularly after my little chat with Anthony. I hoped that even though he was always after a scoop on Alex, he was still prepared to print a story on Amy. His eyes had lit up when he thought I was going to tell him something about her. Maybe that bit of information was worth remembering. I made a mental note to mention it to her whenever she pissed me off again.
Alex nudged me, and I sighed before turning to look out of my window.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
“You seem miles away.”
“Sorry, it’s just that all this is getting to me a bit. But I’m fine, really.”
He offered me a quick smile before nodding ahead. “You ready?”
“Yes.” But was I? My hands were clammy, and I fidgeted in the seat, angling my body so I could get a good look at my street.
Alex slowed the car as the junction appeared to my left.
“Shit! I don’t believe it,” I gasped, lifting my hand to cover my mouth. I was shaking, unable to believe what I’d just seen. There were more photographers outside the house, then there had been at the studio.
“I’m so sorry, Ella.” Alex’s soft voice comforted the internal panic that was crashing through me. Now what did I do? It’d be a nightmare to go back home. My world, no, my life had been turned upside down. Alex had been right, the warnings he had uttered this morning were nearer to the truth than I had ever imagined. He said he’d ruined my life. Perhaps ruined was too strong a word, but he had seriously altered it.
“Back to yours then,” I muttered, fighting back the tears that had formed in my eyes.
“Ella?”
“Just drive,” I said, as my vision swam with blurred images. I had to get away from here, away from the people who were now invading my life with no regard for me as an individual.
But then I realised. I wasn’t an individual. I wasn’t just Ella Summer; she’d gone. I was Alex Denton’s girlfriend.
My life had, quite literally, changed overnight.
“Ella, please, talk to me.”
I took several deep breaths to steady myself.
“Let’s just get back to yours, then we can talk,” I said, not wanting him to hear that I was upset.
But it was too late. He’d already noticed.
“Ella, let me drive a short distance away from here and then I’ll stop the car. You’re upset.”
“No.” I sniffed quite unladylike. “Go straight to yours.”
Alex increased the speed he was driving at. His hand reached across the central console to grasp mine before he entwined our fingers and let our joined hands rest on my lap. He drove one handed, not speaking as we travelled back to his.
I drew in several deep intakes of breath to try and steady the unsettled feeling I had in my stomach. I had only known Alex for six days, and I was already frightened at the prospect of things going wrong for us. We hadn’t even slept together, yet people were saying we were in a relationship. All we’d physically done was kiss. The whole situation was ridiculous.
As the houses grew in stature, I guessed we must be near to where Alex lived. He slowed the car, peering through the front window before he huffed. I followed his gaze, and was greeted by another group of photographers waiting on the path in front of a house.
“Not as many here as at yours, Ella,” Alex said, tightening his hold of my hand. “Just remember to keep your head down, pull the brim of the hat lower. I’ll pull up the driveway and park as near to the front door as possible. They won’t venture through the gate, but they will take photos, they will shout both of our names, and they will hurl questions at you. Ignore them.”
I nodded, intent on following his instructions. He’d already helped me get through this today.
“I’ll get out first, and then I’ll come and open the door for you. It’ll give you less time to deal with them. Okay?” He squeezed my hand before letting it go to manoeuvre the car through the throng of waiting photographers and reporters.
Once again, I was surrounded by flashes and shouts of my name. I began shaking, unable to stop the reaction of my body. Alex stopped the car right outside his doorway.
“Nearly done, Ella,” he reassured me.
I picked up the pharmacy bag, ensuring it was safely tucked under my cardigan. When Alex opened his door the flashes and shouts increased.
“Why don’t you all just do me a favour and fuck off!” Alex shouted just before he shut his door. I managed a nervous smile at his reaction. Some things never changed.
He was soon at my side of the car, opening the door. As I stepped out, he placed his arm protectively around my shoulder.
“Come on, gorgeous,” he whispered, guiding me up the steps to his front door.
“A photo, Alex. Just one of you together!”
“Ella, Ella. Look this way, please!”
“Ella, let’s see what you look like. Take the cap off!”
“Alex, c'mon, just one photo!”
Their shouts started to merge into one. My head was buzzing, my skin prickly and hot. I leaned against Alex as he unlocked the door, but as soon as we were inside, my legs gave way beneath me.
The pharmacy bag crashed to the floor as Alex held me up.
“Ella!” he exclaimed as my world began spinning.
“Alex,” I moaned as everything went black.
* * *
I groaned. My hip was aching and throbbing. My stomach growled with hunger as I opened my eyes, taking in my surroundings.
I was lying in the middle of the biggest bed I had ever seen. The white and gold coloured covers on the bed were soft, cushioning my body, and a familiar scent floated through the room. The smell of Alex.
Where was he?
As if to answer my question he stepped through a doorway at the side of the room. He was currently wearing a very low slung towel wrapped loosely around his hips. I could easily make out the defined muscles of his stomach and chest, and even though I had seen it several hundred times on repeat on my DVD player at home, nothing could have prepared me for seeing it for real.
“Ella, you’re awake!” He rushed over to the bed before sitting on the edge of it. He leaned over me and rested his hand on my forehead. I flinched when drops of water dripped onto my face.
“Sorry,” he said, pushing his hair away from his face. “What happened back there? One minute you seemed okay, the next you were heading for a meeting with the wooden floor in my hallway.”
I frowned, trying to remember exactly how I’d felt. Hot, uncomfortably hot, sticky, and sick. “I . . . I don’t know. I think I fainted.”
“I thought as much. Do you do that a lot?” he asked. He smoothed my hair away from my face, slipping it behind my ears.
“No. Well, not for several years.”
“So, you used to faint a lot? You’re not ill or anything, are you?”
“Don’t be silly. No, I’m not ill.”
“That’s a relief. You’re lucky I managed to grab your head, you know. You’d have probably split it open if you’d clanked it on the floor. You did bash your hip though. I didn’t grab you quickly enough.” He shifted his gaze to my hip before looking back to my face. “Do you feel alright now? Perhaps some food will help. You haven’t eaten since breakfast, have you?”
“Neither have you,” I said. We’d had a busy day.
“Ella, I’m not the one fainting. Do you want me to get you something?”
Tears pricked at my eyes. I was so out of my depth with all that was happening. Alex was showing me nothing but concern and, damn him, he was causing all my emotions to come flooding to the surface.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked. “I’m not mad at you. I’m furious with the photographers though. I think I may also need to have a word with Amy. Pulling stunts like this is way out of line, even by her shitty standards.”
My tears burst free at the mention of the photographers.
“Ella, come on. It’ll be okay.” He stroked my cheek with his fingers. “I’m here. I’ll help you through it all. I promise.”
“But, I’ve only known you for six days. Six days, Alex, and my life is already changing. Not just because of me being with you, well actually it is all because I’m with you, but . . . but . . .”
“Shhh . . .” Alex wrapped his arms around me.
“It’s just all this,” I cried into his shoulder. “I can’t believe it’s happening to me!”
Alex released me from his arms and climbed onto the bed. He propped himself up on the pillows, leaning against the headboard.
“Come here,” he said, lifting his arm up and gesturing for me to rest against him. I shuffled up the bed, tucking myself into his side, resting on his naked chest. He curled his hand around my waist, holding me against him.
“Now, you need to listen to me.” His voice was soft, no traces of anger or frustration evident. “You need to start seeing yourself more clearly. This is all happening to you because I happen to like you, a lot. You’ve caught my attention in a way I have never experienced before. You’ve made me laugh. And you’ve stuck up for yourself in front of bitchy Amy, and nasty me. Stop doubting yourself, Ella.”
I was only half listening as I’d become side-tracked by his fine smattering of chest hair that fluttered when I breathed across it. I could think of nothing better than tracing the thin line of hairs that led under the towel.
“Are you even listening?” Alex said, shifting his body so he could catch my eyes with his own.
“What? Yes. Of course I am.” I wiped the wetness from my eyes with the back of my hand.
“Hmmm . . . it doesn’t seem like it.”
His fingers traced circles on my side, through my t-shirt.
“I’ve run a bath for you,” he said. “Go and have a soak, relax for a while.”
“But I’m comfy here,” I said, not wanting to move from our cosy position. Not only was I warm and cuddled up to Alex, but he smelt amazing. I nuzzled my nose against his chest. “And you smell so nice.”
Alex’s chest vibrated. “Well, thank you.”
“But you do.” I lifted my head, and was met by a serious face. His hair had already started to dry and was flopped across his forehead.
“Ella, I’m worried about you. It’s not normal for someone to just faint like that. I know you’ve had a lot of pressure and excitement these past few days, but even so.”
“Don’t worry about it. Like I said, I used to faint a lot when I was younger. I grew out of it. I just think everything got too much for me. I panicked a bit.”
He nodded. “I still say you need to eat, and you’ll feel better if you have a long soak.”
I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heart beating loud and steady.
“That’ll be lovely,” I replied.
“You need to move then. I’ll get dressed and sort you some food. Then we can have a relaxing night just lying here in each other’s arms if you want.”
“I had thought we’d be doing more than just lying here,” I said as I pushed myself into a sitting position. I hadn’t forgotten the body paints. “I hope you like my surprise.”
Alex frowned.
“The things I bought earlier at the pharmacy.”
“Erm . . . I don’t think you’ll be creating any masterpieces tonight, Ella.”
“What? You looked? That’s cheating. Just because I fainted, you can’t take advantage like that!” I playfully swatted his chest.
“Hey, the bag crashed to the floor and it sounded like glass breaking. All I did was check what had broken.” He placed his fingers under my chin, and tilted my head so that I was facing him. “Flavoured body paint, Ella. I know exactly where I’d have licked that from.” He raised his eyebrows and pecked me on the lips before springing from the bed. “Let me get dressed and then I’ll cook you something whilst you have a soak.”
“Spoilsport!” I shouted as he headed across the room to the bathroom. I stared at his retreating form, unable to tear my eyes off his towel clad ass.
“Perhaps, I have an ulterior motive,” he said. “Perhaps, I’m not bothered about you having a soak. Perhaps, I want you all squeaky clean for another reason.”
He turned to face me as he reached the bathroom door. “And stop staring at my ass!”
I threw myself back on the bed, groaning at being caught staring at him again. He’d caught me every single time.
I looked around his bedroom properly. At one side of the room there was a large window, one that reached from the ceiling to the floor. The view to the outside world was currently hidden by the slatted blinds that covered its surface. The drapes at either side of the window were simple and unfussy. A framed picture hung on the wall at either side of the window. I didn’t recognise the pieces of art, but I didn’t have a great knowledge of artists. They could have been priceless for all I knew.
Alex had obviously brought the designers in to create this room. But I liked it. The quality of everything was obvious, but it didn’t scream of opulence or money.
Alex emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing a pair of navy and pale blue striped pyjama bottoms. I widened my eyes at the sight of him. How did he manage to look so sexy all the time? Did he never have an off-day, or even an off-moment?
“Are you ready for bed?” I asked. “I feel seriously overdressed.”
“I took your shoes off, so you’re not overdressed, Ella. And, as you have just mentioned, yes, I am ready for bed. But I usually change into pyjama pants, or joggers when I get home.”
I cocked my head. “No top?”
“Well . . . I left the matching top in the bathroom for you. I thought you may like to wear it after your bath. I’ve put a clean pair of my trunks out for you as well. I hope that’ll do. I do have some of Amy’s old clothes in the other bedroom, but I didn’t think you’d want to wear them.”
I frowned as he climbed on to the bed, crawling over to where I was sitting.
“I don’t want to wear her things. Why would I want . . . hang on? Why have you still got some of her clothes? You a bit of a cross-dresser when there’s no-one around?”
Alex gently pushed my shoulders. I sank onto the sheets, my head resting on the pillows. He hovered over me, his hands supporting his weight on either side of my shoulders.
“Do I look like a cross-dresser?” he asked as his face moved closer.
“No, but I have no idea what you do in the privacy of your own home.” My stomach twisted in knots as the butterflies shot into action.
His breath brushed over my face. “I can assure you, I have no desire to dress as a woman.”
I breathed deeply, inhaling his scent.
“Are you sniffing me again, Ella?”
I nodded, repeating my action but exaggerating it for his benefit.
He shifted his head to the side of mine. “Your bath’s going cold,” he whispered.
“I want to stay here,” I said, reaching for his shoulders to pull him closer.
He shook his head, refusing to rest his weight on top of me.
“Get in the bath, and I’ll cook us some dinner.”
“Seriously? You’d rather cook dinner than make out with me on your bed?”
“We have all night, Ella. Some things are worth waiting for.”
He pushed himself to the side and then slid from the bed. I growled my frustration, but Alex didn’t listen. He was already at the door.
“Bath. Now!”
* * *
Five minutes later, I was soaking in the bathtub in Alex’s bathroom. The numerous tea-lights that he’d lit around the bath were the only source of light, and their glow was comforting and relaxing. I sunk down in the warm water, enjoying the rich sent of the bubble-bath. It was his smell. I grinned as I thought about him having the matching set of everything. Aftershave, cologne, shower gel, bubble bath, body spray. I’d have to have a look around when I climbed out of the bath to find out what he used.
His bathroom consisted of a white bathroom suite, two basins set on a large black marbled ledge, and a walk-in shower. The tiles on the floor were black, and the ones on the walls a beige colour. There were several mirrors around the room, including a large horizontal one that ran the full length of the marbled ledge. It was all very grand compared to the small and very basic bathroom back at my flat. I sighed, wondering when I’d be able to return there to pick some things up. I didn’t think the photographers and reporters would suddenly leave. But, I was also unsure about how long I’d be welcome to stay with Alex. He might not want me around. I doubted he’d want me to stay when he went away on Wednesday.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the chaos of the past week, and focused on getting some clarity on the situation I was in. Alex Denton liked me. He’d already asked me to be his girlfriend, he’d told me he wanted me in his bed. But it was more than that—quite what it was, I had no idea—and it scared me. I genuinely liked him, not because he was Alex Denton, mega-star, although my fangirl had her moments still, but because he was kind, understanding, and he cared. It was all I’d ever wanted, particularly after my last boyfriend, Sam.
I laid back even further in the bath, letting the warm water and intoxicating scent lull me into a relaxing state of mind. It was only when I heard a soft knock on the bathroom door that I opened my eyes.
“Ella, are you okay in there. I’ve got dinner out here for you.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Great. Don’t be too long though, or I’ll eat yours. I’m starving!”
I sat up slowly, not wanted to leave the warmth and comfort of the bath. But the promise of a decent meal was too much of a temptation. I was starving.
I dried myself as quickly as possible before going to the toilet. Unfortunately, I discovered that my period had just started. Nothing major just yet, but it was on its way.
My heart sank. Last night the lack of condoms had stopped our fun, and tonight, mother nature had decided to intervene. I cursed my body for choosing today to remind me that I was of child bearing age. My periods had always been spasmodic. It had been seven weeks since my last one. I was lucky that they were light, but the irregularity of them often caught me unaware. I always carried around a couple of tampons just in case things happened. But the one in my bag would only last until the morning, and I couldn’t just pop home for some. It seemed that another trip to the pharmacy would be needed on our way to the studio tomorrow morning unless . . . unless Amy had left some.
I sighed, but refused to dwell on the negatives of the evening. We could still make out, and there was nothing stopping me from exploring all of Alex’s body. I dressed in the pyjama top and black trunks that Alex had left out for me. I let my hair hang loose, ruffling it with my fingers, and decided to leave the top three buttons of the pyjama top undone. I couldn’t help but notice my reflection bouncing off the mirror, and nodded at myself before stepping into the bedroom.
The sight that greeted me was quite comical. There was a large tray in the middle of the bed. A bottle of wine took central position on the tray, along with two glasses, and two silver domes. I guessed the domes were covering the plates of delicious food he had cooked. Alex was sitting on the bed, cross legged, and I was sure his jaw dropped at my appearance.
“Ella,” he said. “You look . . . well, seriously sexy. Maybe I should have put out some different clothes for you. Something less revealing.”
“I can fasten the buttons up if you want,” I suggested, letting my hands drift to the top of the shirt.
“No! Please, leave them. You look perfect.”
“Thanks.” I dropped my arms to my side and crossed the room to the bed. “You look pretty hot yourself though, Mr Denton.”
“Why, thank you, Miss Summer.” His mouth curled at the side. “But may I ask why you keep calling me Mr Denton? I’d much rather you call me Alex, or are you secretly wanting a bit of role playing? Because if you are, just tell me who you want me to be.”
My heart skipped a beat at his suggestion. Role playing. With Alex Denton. My mind went into overdrive, my list was endless. I held in a laugh when I realised that top of my list of characters for a man to act out in role-play was Alex Denton.
But there’d be no role playing tonight, well not in the way I wanted. Not now.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I placed my hand on my forehead. “You’re not going to believe this, Alex, but I think . . .” I stopped talking momentarily, wondering how to tell him my bad news. “You know Amy left some clothes behind, did she leave anything else?”
“What?” Alex knelt up on the bed.
“I’ve started my period. Did Amy leave anything behind that I can use?”
He stared blankly at me for a few moments. Surely the man knew about women and periods. He’d lived with Amy for nearly a year.
“Errr . . . sanitary stuff? Tampons?” he asked.
I nodded my reply, slightly taken aback by Alex Denton saying the word tampons. It was another thing to add to my surreal list.
“I’m not sure. I know where they’ll be if she did.” He pushed himself off the bed before wandering around to me.
“So, you’ll be like this for a week then?” There was disappointment in his voice.
“A week! God, no. Three, perhaps four days. Definitely no longer.”
Alex was still frowning.
“Amy was a full week, or at least she told me she was. That’s when she slept in the other bedroom.”
“What? She slept in a different room?”
“Yeah, whenever she had her period, she wouldn’t let me near her. I wasn’t even allowed to kiss her.”
“That woman has serious issues,” I grumbled. “I’ll let you kiss me whenever you want.”
He leaned over me, tilting my face up toward his with his fingers, and gently kissed me. “Whatever the situation, Ella, will you sleep with me tonight in this bed. I don’t think I could stand it if you chose to sleep elsewhere.”
“Where else am I going to sleep? I want some serious cuddles from you tonight,” I reassured him.
“And if you get any stomach cramps, like I know a lot of women do, just let me know. I’ve heard that resting something warm on the affected area really helps.”
I licked my lips, and surveyed this amazing man before me. Not only did he know how to tease and excite me, he knew how to look after me, even with something he’d never had experience of.
“I can fill a hot-water bottle for you,” he offered.
“Naaa . . .” I shook my head. “I can think of something a hundred times better than a hot-water bottle.”
His brow rose.
“You,” I said. “If I get stomach cramps, I want you to rest against my belly all night.”
His ensuing smile promised me more than any words, that he’d oblige.